[thouworm]

PATRICK GASPARD, Obama’s “Glue Man,” is Director of Political Affairs, one of the most critical and influential jobs in a White House, was Executive Vice President–the #2–at SEIU 1199 in New York City.

““I grew up in 1199…and I will always be an 1199er wherever I am.” “

~~~~~~~~~~
ACORN Paycheck Aside, Patrick Gaspard is a Radical
by Kyle Olson

Several days ago, Capital Research Center’s Matthew Vadum published research here indicating an ACORN alumni in the White House (other than the president): Political Director Patrick Gaspard. As I did three weeks prior at ACORNcracked.com, Matthew used a Wade Rathke blog as the source, which Rathke, the founder of ACORN, immediately changed after Vadum’s report, citing “memory tricks.” Politico led the way in poo-pooing the connection once Rathke played cover-up.

The fact is, Patrick Gaspard, Obama’s “Glue Man,” is more important than Van Jones ever hoped of being. The fact is, one of the most critical and influential jobs in a White House, the Director of Political Affairs, is occupied by a former SEIU health care lobbyist and ACORN organizer. To be exact, he was Executive Vice President–the #2–at SEIU 1199 in New York City.

After Gaspard was appointed to the White House, Carribbean Voice quoted him as saying, “I grew up in 1199…and I will always be an 1199er wherever I am.” SEIU’s luxury is that now taxpayers are paying for it.

Wade Rathke, current organizer with SEIU Local 100 (in New Orleans) and ACORN International (now “Community Organizations International”), called Gaspard a “great friend” on his ChiefOrganizer.org blog. Additionally, Rathke theorized how Gaspard was likely instrumental in working with SEIU to bring “big health care operators” to the table. [Figuring once scrutiny came to someone high-level in the White House, the evidence would be changed, we turned Rathke’s blog posting into a PDF.]

http://biggovernment.com/2009/10/05/acorn-paycheck-aside-patrick-gaspard-is-a-radical/#more-12070

[Piranha]

Yes, I had forgotten completely about Gaspard. Do you know when he affiliated with 1199?

[MHGinTN]

Pingalingaling ... more data on SEIU conections and the healthcare ‘industry’.

[thouworm]

Patrick Gaspard
Department: White House
Position: Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs ( Appointed )
202-456-6257
Age: 41
Childhood State: Overseas
Previous State: New York
Campaigned For in 2008: Obama

Gaspard got his start in politics organizing demonstrations in New York City for social justice in Haiti in the mid-1980s, and that talent eventually led him to storied Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union.

He was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, after his father, a political opponent of the Duvalier regime in Haiti, fled there. Gaspard's organizing prowess caught the eye of veteran Democratic operative Bill Lynch, who enlisted him to work for Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins, who later became New York mayor.

In 1999, Dennis Rivera, president of Local 1199, recruited Gaspard, and he eventually became the union's executive vice president. The local granted him a leave to work as deputy national field director for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential bid. Gaspard, 41, never imagined himself working in the West Wing; citing his responsibilities at 1199, he had turned down several overtures to join the Obama campaign before becoming political director last June. Gaspard attended the School of Visual Arts and Columbia University.

National Journal

[Piranha]

Here is a story about 1199 and its Communist past. Gaspard apparently joined the union in 1999.

http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2009/10/obama-file-88-parallel-lives-obamas-man.html

[Piranha]

Here’s another article about Gaspard, SEIU and ACORN.